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We've told you before that this year is a big one for Rolex with it being the 50th anniversary of the Daytona. And here we've got your first look at the two biggest new releases from Rolex: the 50th anniversary Daytona in platinum and a black and blue GMT-Master II. ​We will have all the details on both of these watches (and more) along with live pictures in the coming days, but we just couldn't wait to give you a sneak peek.

This year, two of our favorites in the world of sport watches turn a
half-century: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and the TAG Heuer Carrera.
These two watches share a lot in common, and though you will never hear
much about their similarities from Rolex or TAG, you will from us.

Auction season is in full swing again, and here at HODINKEE we always try to show you the best that each auction house has to offer. Across the pond from HODINKEE HQ, Bonhams London has a number of rare and interesting Rolexes up for sale on December 18th that will stretch your Rolex knowledge beyond the usual 1675s and 5512s. Here is a look at a few highlights.

You may have seen vintage watch sales on Gilt curated by Benjamin Clymer before, but never something like this. For this sale, dubbed The Ultimate Collection, our intrepid editor hunted down fantastic examples of some of the most iconic watches around. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights.

Sometimes, we don't need a
reason to show you something cool. This is one of those occasions.
What we have here are just a few photographs of a super cool watch, an
early Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a so-called "Paul Newman" dial. If
you don't know how to tell a Paul Newman from a regular Daytona, watch this video.

If you do, then just enjoy these photos of this absolutely beautiful, exotic, rare, (and valuable) beast.

Did you know that famed London jeweler and luxury goods retailer Asprey
has a very real connection with some of the most desirable vintage
Rolex watches around? They do, and just about every time you see an
Omani dial Rolex, you can bet it came from Asprey. Those watches were
made by Rolex in the 70s and 80s, but the program has been shuttered for
decades. Now, with the help of the Bamford Watch Department, Asprey has
its own co-branded Rolexes once again.

Turn down a side street off one of London's most famous roads, and
you'll find yourself on a block that could be nearly anywhere in central
London. Rows of identical townhouses in faded brick line both sides of
the narrow paved lane, and there is something sleepy about the place.
But hidden on an upper floor of one of these nondescript residences sits
the Bamford Watch Department.

​Today, Paul Boutros finishes off his exhaustive (nay...EPIC!) look at the Rolex Daytona. In part one, he told us about this historic chronograph's humble beginning with a pushers that pumped, a case that wasn't waterproof, and a Valjoux-based movement. He went on to tell us about the first automatic Daytonas, based on a heavily modified Zenith El Primero movement. In part two, he showed us just why Rolex's in-house caliber 4130 really is the automatic Daytona to own, above the Zenith's, and finally, today, he takes us into a full-length review of the modern Rolex Daytona 116520 as an entire watch, taking into account comfort, wearability, and attractiveness. A must read if you are considering buying a chronograph of any sort in the near future.

​Yesterday, Paul told us all about the early days of the Rolex Daytona, including just how they changed over 50% of Zenith's El Primero movement before deeming it Rolex-worthy. Today, he will take us into the "in-house" years, and explain why the Rolex caliber 4130 - the movement currently used in the Daytona - is vastly superior to that based on the El Primero, and why collectors' fascination with the El Primero Daytona is misplaced.

In the first of a three-part series, vintage watch expert and collector Paul Boutros takes us into the world of one of the world's most famous watches, and arguably the chronograph by which all others are measured - the Rolex Daytona.​

Paul begins with a look at the earliest references, and continues up through the first Daytonas to use self-winding movements. He also explains why Rolex chose Zenith's El Primero as the base of their reference 16520 Daytona, and just what they didn't like about it.​ Paul will be back tomorrow with the second part of this series, an examination of Rolex's first in-house chronograph, the caliber 4130.​

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Friday March 3, 2012

HODINKEE is one of the most widely read wristwatch publications in the world. Launched in 2008 by then 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, the site quickly gained notoriety for earnest looks at some of the industry’s most interesting, and occasionally forgotten timepieces.